Golf push cart rangefinder stabilizing unit

ABSTRACT

A golf push cart rangefinder stabilizing unit allowing the anchoring, steadying, and adjusting of the position of the rangefinder using a position locking knob and position locking washer on one side of a telescoping tubing base. On the other side of the telescoping tubing base is an anchor positioning gear lock sliding over a center pivot alignment shaft next to an adjustable positioning gear lock. There is a center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp on one end of the center pivot alignment shaft, comprised of a hemispherical torus connected to a free frame clamp also in a hemispherical torus shape. The free frame clamp having transverse openings on each end to allow a center pivot tension bolt to be inserted into it on one end and a frame clamp bolt to be inserted into it on the other. A frame clamp stand-off bushing slides over the center pivot tension bolt between a stand-off bushing washer which slides over a center pivot tension bolt, all of which are anchored by a base frame clamp bolt.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority through U.S. provisional patent No. 61/562,629 filed on Nov. 22, 2011.

Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research or Development

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

One of the most important keys to success in golf is being able to gauge the distance to any particular point on the golf course. There are many methods golfers have used for measuring such distances. The most common methods are:

Course markers: Course markers can be used as a general guideline to measure distances to the center of the green. However, because they only give distances to the center of the green, determining the exact distances to flag placement must be left up to the golfer's own calculations.

Course yardage books: Many golf courses offer a course yardage book that allows the golfer to manage each hole using a printed map of each hole with yardage marked on that particular hole's main structures. For example: A yardage distance from the tee box to the first fairway bunker to the right, or the distance to reach the fairway. Although this is a viable way to maneuver the course, achieving exact distances is left up to the golfer's planning, math, and guesses. Unless a golfer is a low handicap or established pro, most golfers find it difficult to use a course yardage book.

GPS units: Many golfers and golf courses now use personal GPS units for distance calculations. These give distances to most structures on the golf course via satellite. There are numerous versions, and even phone applications. However, GPS units don't always give exact distances and can be inaccurate for up to 10 to 15 yards. Many GPS units don't always work, they may time out, give readings on adjacent holes, or just shut off altogether. This puts the golfer at the mercy of the GPS unit. In side by side comparisons using separate GPS units on the same hole, often readings won't match and a difference in distances can range from 10 to 15 yards. This can make the difference between hitting with a 9 iron or a 7 iron, a 3 wood or a 4 iron, etc.

Rangefinders: Often rangefinders are the most accurate method of acquiring exact distances to any particular spot on a golf course. Some of the more expensive units even can give slope readings. However, rangefinders do have a major flaw: they are difficult to use and lack stability when holding them and trying to use them. The golfer must manually hold the unit, focus the unit's cross-hairs on the desired spot, then actuate the unit to measure the distance. This can cause a problem due to the golfer's inability to physically hold the unit steady and stable, which in many cases can cause the golfer to accidentally measure a reading from a tree, bush, rock, or other structure that may be behind, next to, or in front of the desired target. Furthermore, this can cause slow play, which is a common problem on today's golf courses. Each of these methods of dealing with the problem suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages: They are not sufficiently accurate, they are difficult to use, they require multiple separate calculations, and they do not easily provide the stability necessary to use a rangefinder accurately regardless of a golfer's size or physical abilities to hold a rangefinder without shaking. The invention described solves this problem. It provides the steadiness and stability necessary to use a rangefinder accurately regardless of a golfer's size or physical abilities to hold a rangefinder without shaking.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a device that satisfies the need for effectively anchoring, steadying, and efficiently adjusting the position of a rangefinder to make it more accurate and useful in sporting activities or other activities where rangefinders are needed or helpful. A device having the features of the present invention comprises a mounting bracket with a tightening strap attached by a lockable swivel ball socket which fits onto a male ball swivel. A ball receiver clamp knob is anchored to a tightening screw which threads into the lockable swivel ball socket. A plurality of telescoping tubing clamps allows the telescoping tubing to be adjusted to a desired length. A telescoping tubing position locking knob puts pressure on a telescoping tubing position locking washer via a center pivot alignment shaft which slides through a transverse opening in the telescoping tubing and onto an anchor positioning gear lock and an adjustable positioning gear lock. A free frame clamp slides onto a center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp by sliding the free frame clamp over a center pivot tension bolt and anchoring it by a frame clamp bolt.

Pressure is adjusted to hold the entire assembly on the golf push cart or other suitable portable equipment container by loosening or tightening a base frame clamp knob over a frame clamp. The opposite end of the free frame clamp is attached to the opposite end of the center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp by a frame clamp bolt.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of the invention as it looks when typically being used.

FIG. 2 is a close up orthogonal view of the invention shown in FIG. 1 attached to a golf push cart.

FIG. 3 is a close up perspective view of the upper mounting bracket portion of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the base portion of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a close up perspective view of the bottom of the upper mounting bracket portion of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of one embodiment of the invention in use. The operator adjusts the telescoping tubing to the desired height and looks through a range finder anchored inside the invention at the top. A golf push cart in this embodiment acts as a base and holds the range finder steady for use by the operator.

FIG. 2 is an orthogonal view of the invention shown in FIG. 1. A telescoping tube (5) is anchored to a golf push cart (17). A plurality of telescoping tubing clamps (6) and (20) hold the telescoping tubing (5) in place once it has been moved to the desired extended or retracted position in the embodiment shown. A telescoping tubing position locking knob (7) and a telescoping tubing position locking washer (8) hold the telescoping tubing (5) at the desired angle for the user.

FIG. 3 is a close up perspective view of the upper mounting bracket (2) portion of the invention shown in FIG. 1. An upper mounting bracket (2) large enough to hold a range finder is held in place by a tightening strap (1) anchored by any appropriate method. In the embodiment shown in this drawing, the tightening strap (1) is looped through slots in the upper mounting bracket (2), and then it is adjusted to hold tight onto a range finder by anchoring it using a loop and hook fastening system or any other suitable means. The angle of the upper mounting bracket (2) can be adjusted by means of a ball receiver clamp knob (3) which tightens up a lockable swivel ball socket (21) on a male ball swivel (4) at the upper end of the telescoping tubing (5). An upper telescoping tube clamp (6) is shown which is used to fix the length of the tubing. There may be a plurality of such telescoping tube clamps depending on the length of the telescoping tubing (5) used.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the base portion of the invention shown in FIG. 1. The anchor for the base of the telescoping tube to a golf push cart is comprised of a base frame clamp knob (15) which uses a center pivot tension bolt (16) to tighten down a free frame clamp (11) onto a center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp (10) which is anchored onto a center pivot alignment shaft (19) fitting crosswise into a transverse opening (22) in the telescoping tubing (5). The free frame clamp (11) and the center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp (10) fit over a tubing or other suitable anchor point on a golf push cart. The angle of the telescoping tubing (5) relative to the push cart frame is adjustable using an adjustable positioning gear lock (18) nested into an anchor positioning gear lock (9) tightened by the center pivot alignment shaft (19) which is inserted crosswise through the long axis of the telescoping tubing (5) through a transverse opening (22) and tightened by the position locking knob (7) over a position locking washer (8) above the base of telescoping arm (23). In the preferred embodiment, the base of the telescoping arm (23) is padded to facilitate protecting a user from injuring himself or herself by hitting the lower end of the telescoping tubing (5).

FIG. 5 is a close up perspective view of the bottom of the upper mounting bracket portion of the invention shown in FIG. 1, showing in detail how the upper mounting bracket (2), sized to hold a range finder, is anchored to the telescoping tubing (5). The upper mounting bracket (2) is anchored to a lockable swivel ball socket (21) nested into a male ball swivel (4). The lockable swivel ball socket (21) can be made immovable or movable by tightening or loosening an attached screw (not visible) threaded into the base of the swivel ball socket (21) that is attached to the ball receiver clamp knob (3) which then contacts the surface of the male ball swivel (4). The tightening strap (1) which holds the range finder in place in the embodiment shown can be sized to fit a range finder by anchoring the tightening strap (1) at the bottom of the upper mounting bracket (2) to the base of the swivel ball socket (21) as shown, by any suitable attachment means. In the version shown in this drawing, the upper end of the tightening strap (1) can be anchored on top of the upper mounting bracket (2) by a hook and loop method, a button, a snap, a hook, or any suitable attachment means. An upper telescoping tubing clamp (6) and a lower telescoping tubing clamp (20) is used to allow adjustment of the length of the telescoping tubing (5) which is shown, but any suitable plurality of telescoping tubing clamps can be used.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the invention shown in FIG. 1. An upper mounting bracket (2) with a tightening strap (not shown) to anchor the range finder, is attached by a lockable swivel ball socket (21) having a male ball swivel (4) inserted into it. The adjustment of the male ball swivel (4) and its ability to be locked in place is achieved by loosening and then tightening a male ball receiver clamp knob (3). The ball receiver clamp knob (3) is shown as it would thread into the lockable swivel ball socket (21). The point of insertion of the male ball swivel (4) into the swivel ball socket (21) is also shown. The upper telescoping tubing clamp (6) and the lower telescoping tubing clamp (20) as used in the preferred embodiment are visible located on the telescoping tubing (5). The length of telescoping tubing (5) has a transverse opening (22) in the telescoping tubing (5) near its base (23) on the end opposite of the male ball swivel (4). A plurality of telescoping tubing clamps (6) and (20) are used to fix the length of the telescoping tubing (5). A center pivot alignment shaft (19) is inserted into the opening near the base of the telescoping arm (22). A position locking knob (7) is threaded onto the free end of the center pivot alignment shaft (19) which can be seen inserted into the opening near the base of the telescoping arm (22). A position locking washer (8) is visible as it would slide onto the center pivot alignment shaft (19) between the position locking knob (7) and the telescoping tubing (5). An anchor positioning gear lock (9) is shown as it would slide over the center pivot alignment shaft (19) on the opposite side of the telescoping tubing (5) showing the position locking washer (8) next to the position locking knob (7). An adjustable positioning gear lock (18) is visible as it would slide over the center pivot alignment shaft (19) placed next to the anchor positioning gear lock (9). The center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp (10) is visible on one end of the center pivot alignment shaft (19). The center pivot alignment shaft (19) is shown as a hemispherical torus. In the preferred embodiment it will have an interior diameter matching the size of the handle or frame of a golf push cart (17). If the handle or frame of the golf push cart is too small to be sufficiently anchored by the size of the hemispherical torus of the center pivot alignment shaft clamp (10), and/or the torus of the free frame clamp (11), an insert can be placed inside the hemispherical torus of the center pivot alignment shaft clamp (10) and/or the free frame clamp (11) to make a more precise fit to the size of the frame of the golf push cart. The free frame clamp (11) has the transverse openings visible on each end which allow the center pivot tension bolt (16) to be inserted into it on one end and a frame bolt clamp (14) to be inserted into it on the other. The frame bolt clamp (14) anchors the free frame clamp (11) into a threaded receptacle on the free end of the center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp (10). Also the base frame clamp knob (15) is shown attached to the free end of the center pivot tension bolt (16). In the preferred embodiment, a frame clamp stand-off bushing (12) is shown sliding over the center pivot tension bolt (16) between a stand-off bushing washer (13) which as indicated slides over the center pivot tension bolt (16) shown attached to one end of the center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp (10) at one end and having the base frame clamp knob (15) attached at the other. The stand-off bushing washer (13) is shown as being between the base frame clamp knob (15) and the frame clamp stand-off bushing (12).

While the invention has been described in connection with several versions of the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim. Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the single claim below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf push cart rangefinder stabilizing unit comprising: an upper mounting bracket; a tightening strap attached to the upper mounting bracket to hold a rangefinder onto the upper mounting bracket; a swivel ball socket connected to the base of the upper mounting bracket at the bottom of the upper mounting bracket; a male ball swivel; the male ball swivel affixed to one end of a length of telescoping tubing having the male ball swivel on the top of one end; the male ball swivel inserted into the swivel ball socket; a male ball receiver clamp knob to allow adjustment of the male ball swivel connected to the base of the upper mounting bracket; the length of telescoping tubing having a transverse opening in the telescoping tubing near its base on the end opposite of the male ball swivel; a plurality of telescoping tubing clamps to fix the length of the telescoping tubing; a center pivot alignment shaft inserted into the opening near the base of the telescoping arm; a position locking knob threaded onto the free end of the center pivot alignment shaft which has been inserted into the opening near the base of the telescoping arm; a position locking washer sliding onto the center pivot alignment shaft between the position locking knob and the telescoping tubing; an anchor positioning gear lock sliding over the center pivot alignment shaft on the opposite side of the telescoping tubing which had the position locking washer next to the position locking knob; an adjustable positioning gear lock sliding over the center pivot alignment shaft next to the anchor positioning gear lock; the center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp on one end of the center pivot alignment shaft being comprised of a hemispherical torus having an interior diameter matching the size of the handle or frame of a golf push cart; a free frame clamp in a hemispherical torus shape; the free frame clamp having transverse openings on each end to allow the center pivot tension bolt to be inserted into it on one end and a frame bolt clamp to be inserted into it on the other; the frame bolt clamp being anchored into a threaded receptacle on the free end of the center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp; a base frame clamp knob attached to the free end of the center pivot tension bolt; a frame clamp stand-off bushing; stand-off bushing washer; the frame clamp stand-off bushing sliding over the center pivot tension bolt between the stand-off bushing washer which slides over the center pivot tension bolt attached to one end of the center pivot alignment shaft frame clamp at one end and having the base frame clamp knob at the other; the stand-off bushing washer being between the base frame clamp knob and the frame clamp stand-off bushing.
 2. The golf push cart rangefinder stabilizing unit in claim 1 wherein the opposite end of the length of telescoping tubing having the male ball swivel on the top of one end is padded.
 3. The golf push cart rangefinder stabilizing unit in claim 1 wherein an insert is placed inside the hemispherical torus to make a more precise fit to the size of the frame of the golf push cart.
 4. The golf push cart rangefinder stabilizing unit in claim 1 wherein the insert placed inside the hemispherical torus to make a more precise fit to the size of the frame of the golf push cart is made of plastic. 